Upgrade! Brussels/Ghent: Etoiles Polaires 07 - Festival of Finnish Music and Media Arts :: December 12 - 15, 2007 :: Vooruit, Ghent - Belgium.

For this edition of Etoiles Polaires, we are very happy to invite Juha Huuskonen as guest curator. Juha Huuskonen is the founder of Pixelache, a festival for electronic art and subcultures which originated in Helsinki in 2002. Today, Pixelache organises events in different parts of the world: Mal Au Pixel in France and Pixelazo in Colombia. Pixelache gives a platform to creative minds from the most diverse disciplines (artists, engineers, designers, researchers, architects, etc.) but they all have a shared interest in technology and media. Pixelache focuses on grassroots networks, like the VJ scene, media activism, open source communities, etc. This way, Pixelache successfully connects traditional creative disciplines and rapidly developing (e-)subcultures.

Program:

1) The video and installation trail will feature two remarkable Finnish media artists. Terike Haapoja will present three works which illustrate her fascination for the beginning and the end of life. Juha Valkeapää’s work on the other hand is a cross between sound art and performance art. You’ll also be able to view work by several international media artists in the Pixelache screening: Mike Nourse (US), Geert Mul (NL), JODI (NL), Simon Faithfull (UK), Kristian Simolin (FI), Steven Dixon (SE), Helen Evans & Heiko Hansen (FR) and Abhishek Hazra (IN).

2) Huuskonen will also bring the Placard headphonefestival to the Vooruit Café. Musicians from all over the world will be connected with each other with their laptops and the internet. In the non-stop concert that ensues they will take turns in showcasing their talent.

3) Finally, three artists will provide visuals at one of the many concerts: Samuli Alapuranen will take the stage with Aavikko, Maippi Ketola joins Jimi Tenor & Flat Earth Society and Marita Liulia does the same for Kimmo Pohjonen.

Etoiles Polaires 07 opening night!

On Wednesday 12 Dec, Etoiles Polaires kicks off with the opening of the video and installation trail and a FrictiesSalon in which Juha Huuskonen will talk about his media arts programme. You’ll also be able to enjoy an opening concert by Kimmo Pohjonen & Marita Liulia - “Animator”. Finnish accordion wizard Kimmo Pohjonen explores traditional music, jazz, rock and avant-garde with his instrument. For Animator, Pohjonen will work with Marita Liulia, a.k.a. The Queen of Multimedia, who designed the costumes and will provide live animation at the concert.

The full programme on Wednesday the 12th of December
6 pm - midnight video and installation trail
8 pm - 9 pm FrictiesSalon with Juha Huuskonen
9 pm - 10 pm Animator opening concert
10 pm reception

More Etoiles Polaires !

New music productions:

1) The extravagant musical mastermind Jimi Tenor seems to have developed a healthy obsession with big bands and symphonic orchestras over recent years. That’s why the festival has hooked him up with jack-of-all-trades Peter Vermeersch and his big band Flat Earth Society. Tenor wrote some new songs for FES, while Vermeersch rearranged some existing Tenor songs. You can see the result on Thursday 13 Dec: Kusti Vuorinen + Jimi Tenor meets Flat Earth Society & Maippi Ketola.

2) The experimental electronic duo Pan Sonic (Mika Vainio an Ilpo Väisänen) and Belgian cellist Arne Deforce (Champ d’Action) have a shared fascination for improvisation and electronics. They met in Berlin for EP 07 and they got on like a house on fire, so get ready for a surprising concert on Saturday 15 Dec: Magyar Posse + Circle + Pan Sonic & Arne Deforce + Aavikko & Samuli Alapuranen + Polarparty .

Etoiles Polaires 07 nice extras:

1) Film night with Aki Kaurismäki’s “Leningrad Cowboys trilogy” as a warm-up in the Vooruit Café on Sunday 9 Dec.
2) Finnish food and drink in the Café during the festival

Etoiles Polaires is a co-production of Etoiles Polaires vzw and Vooruit, with the support of the Flemish government / LUSES / ESEK; made possible with the help of the FIMIC / The Finnish Cultural Institute / the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communication and Culture / the Embassy of Finland in Brussels. With special thanks to VRT - Klara.

The 2007-2008 season was made possible with the support of: The Flemish Government / the province of East Flanders / the city of Ghent; De Morgen / P&V/ VRT - Radio 1.